What's needed for Pompey fans to fulfil Cook's belief

But will you? Is the hunger still there to back the Paul Cook era in the same numbers?

The Pompey boss yesterday voiced a conviction in The News fans will return ahead of the release of season tickets next Wednesday.

It’s a statement which could be construed as presumptuous, of taking an unstinting loyalty for granted.

The emotion behind it, however, was one of a continually developing appreciation of the backing he and his players are afforded.

‘You can’t give enough superlatives to our supporters,’ Cook said, with genuine admiration.

He is fully aware, however, he is the man who has to give them reason to return over the summer.

And it’s a burden he readily takes on his shoulders.

‘I do,’ Cook admitted when asked if he feels that weight of responsibility. ‘If I went home, sulked and went on holiday for two weeks it’d be easy.

‘And do what? Bury my head and say it’s going to be alright next year?’

Blues fans are quite rightly unhappy at the prospect of a fourth season in England’s basement tier.

But, the majority have avoided hysteria at that disappointment with a level-headed acknowledgement of the progress made.

There should have been progress, too. The Pompey transfer budget was among the top couple of war chests afforded League Two sides.

‘Making it right’, though means giving tangible reasons for